Ka’apor Indians hike during a jungle expedition to search for and expel loggers from the Amazon basin in Brazil in August.

Lunae Parracho/Reuters

Reuters photographer Lunae Parracho has spent the past few years focused on the Amazon, “where a number of huge infrastructure projects are threatening the traditional indigenous way of life.”

As a photographer and witness, Mr. Parracho writes in a blogpost, “Illegal loggers have long invaded areas of the Amazon rainforest. Tired of what they say is a lack of sufficient government assistance, the Ka’apor Indians feel it is time to take matters into their own hands.

The Ka’apor Indians are the legal inhabitants and caretakers of the territory along with four other tribes. The tribe sends out their warriors who hunt down loggers and drive them off their land.

On several occasions, Indians around Brazil have been subject to violence and attacks from illegal loggers. This time the Indians fought back.“We got tired of waiting for the government,” Ka’apor leader Irakadju said.

The Ka’apor Indians’ way of life depends on the forest. They are not the only tribe to complain about exploiters; other warriors around the country have also set up patrols to drive away those exploiting the forest’s natural resources.

“Our forest was being taken away from us, but we woke up,” Irakadju told me one day. “Many whites feel that the standing forest is of no use. They cannot see that a living jungle is good for the entire world and helps the Earth to breathe.”

Ka’apor Indians tie up loggers during an expedition.

Lunae Parracho/Reuters

Ka’apor Indians strike the loggers with sticks.

Lunae Parracho/Reuters

Ka’apor Indians release a logger, left, after capturing him.

Lunae Parracho/Reuters

A logging truck burns after it was discovered and set on fire by Ka’apor Indians.